Weft-replenishing mechanism for drop-box looms



Nov. 2 1926.

s. A. NELsQN WFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR DROP BOX LGOMS Filed June 4.1925 5 sheets-sheet f1 .z-NvE'N'Toz: sHML/BL 5f NEL 60N Nov. 2 1926.

- s. A. NELSON wEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM Fon DROP Box Locus Filed June4. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w S. A. NELSON wEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FORDROP 30x Looms Nov. 2 1926.

5 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 4. 192 60 J Nove 2 9 S. A. NELSON WEFTREPLEISHING MECHANISM FOR DROP BOX LOOMS J0 l fg.

Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,271

s. A. NELSON WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR DROPv BOX LOOMS Filed June@1925 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Nov. 2, 19235..

unirse srAres PA TENT @FFI C E.

sAr/LURL A. nELsON, or WORCESTER, MAssACrrusRTTs, AssIGNOR To CRoMrfroN&

arrow/vries Loom WORKS, or WoRCns'rER,

nAssACnUsR'rrs.

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or WEFT-REPLENISHING MECHANISM FGR DROP-BOXLOOMS.

Application filed .Tune 4, 1925. Seria] No. 34,965,

lhis invention relates to a loom of the type in which a plurality ofshifting shut-v tle boxes or drop boxes arek provided at the iveftreplenishing or magazine end of the loom. This construction is mostCommonly found in the ,so-called picl-and-picli loom, in which aplurality of drop boxes are provid-ed at cach end of the loom and inwhich provision-is made forinsertinga single pick only of any desiredcolor of weft at any desiredv point in the fabric. It has been foundvery difficult to transfer a vbobbin to a shuttle in one of a set ofvertically movable` drop boxes, as the boxes are moving vertically atthe time When they reach front Center, Vat which point the transfer ofthe weft carrier commonly occurs.

It is one object of my invention to provide a construction by Which atransferring device is movable vertically With the drop boxes as theyriseand fall and in which the transferreralso has an independentvertical movement to a normal position of align ment with the runningshuttle.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanism for actuatingthe trans- Aferrer to insert a weft carrier as the trans` ferrer moveswith the drop boxes.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described` and morerparticularly pointed outin the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown iu the drawings, in WhichFig. l .is a right hand side ,elevation of parts of a loom embodyingmyimprovements, With the magazine and drop boxes shown in section;

Fig. 2 `is an enlarged side elevation of the weft carrier transferrer,together With mechanism for supporting and actuating the same; V

Fig'. 3- is a front view yof the partsishown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 41 is a top planview .ofjhewparts shown in Fig. 2, With themagazine om1tted.

Fig. 5is a` sectional plan view,- taken along the line 5.--5i1rIr`igi 3,

Fig.V VGis adetail side elevationcfa re; voking device;

'l' isa detail Yfront elevation,. .lool ;ing inthe direction of thearrow` `7 in.l ig. G5.

Fiss, .S and 9 are' partiel., .SdeeleyetlOna illustrating the operationof the inventing andshovving the parts in different successivepositions, and

Fig.` 10 is a sectional View taken along the line lO-lO in Fig. 5.

Referringto the drawings, I have shown a loom frame (Fig. l) on Which alay2l is pivotally mounted foroscillation through a crank arm 22 fromthe usual crankshaft 23. Aset of shifting shuttle boxes ordrop boxes 24are mounted lfor vertical movement at the right hanil `end ofthe lay 2-land a similar set of shifting boxes is mountedjfor vertical movement atthe opposite end of the lay (not` shown).

A weft carrier magazine 25 is mountedou the f frame 2O atthe vveftreplenishing side ofthe loom and isshown as being of the stationary typeand as provided with three weft carrier compartments, 26 adapted tocontain` weft carriers orloobbins vhaving. different kinds of 'colors ofweft thereon.

Any suitable and convenient mechanism may be lprovided for shifting thedrop boxes vertically in accordance with the demands of the pattern andalso for selecting and releasingthe desired vveft carriers from themagazine,r 25. The shuttles S inthe boxes 24 are of the type whichpermits insertion of abobbin `or weft carrier from the side, as showninthe priorlpatent to Crompton, No. 739,651, issued September22, 1903.

I will noW describe the mechanism by which I transfer a bobbin from themagazine to the shuttle which is active at the time oftransferindication. For this purpose I provide a fixed stand 30 (Fig. 3) firmlymounted on the loom frame 20 and having bearings3l and 32 for a pair ofsliding rods 33. A movable frame is secured to the sliding rods 33 andcomprises a lower member 34;. and an upper member 35j'oi ned togethervertically extending braces 36.

Coil springs 3? and 38 `are mounted on each rod 33 between the plates 3aand 35 respectively and the .corresponding upper stand bearing 3l.Collars 39 are loosely yslidable on tlie.,1ods but are provided Witlicross. pins `which extend through separate' il in rods to limit movementof theeollars tou-*ard each other. The supportingdframe is thusfnormally main.- tainedV in. midpositionj,withfrespect Ato the i Ayieldingly, raised. or

.s1-.Leit

fl il A bobbin-holding carrier is mounted to slide forward and rearwardin the supporting frame and comprises a lower member 42 and an uppermember 43 joined together by upright braces 44 (Figs. 3 and 5). 0n itsupper face the member 43 is provided with a pocket or recess 45 toreceive a bobbin B, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The plates 42and 43 of the bobbin-holding carrier are preferably slidable ondove-tailed guide-ways on the plates 34 and 35 of the supporting frame,as clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

A transferrer slide (Fig. 5) is mounted to slide forward and rearward inthe lower plate 42 of the bobbin holding carrier and provides a bearing51 for a transferrer 52. An arm 53 (Fig. 2) extends upward from theslide 50 and is provided with an adjustable stop screw 54 engaging thetransferrer to limit forward movement thereof. A tension spring 55 holdsthe transferrer yieldingly against the screw 54.

A rod 56 (Fig. 5) is secured to the lower part of the slide 50 andextends through bearing in the front end of the plate 42. A nut 57threaded on the end of the rod 5G limits rearward movement of the sliderelative to the plate 42. A heavy coil spring 58 surrounds the rod 56and normally holds the slide 50 in its adjusted rearward position.

This yielding` construction provides a give-way which permits thetransferrer to slide forward in the bobbin holding carrier if amisplaced bobbin or shuttle prevents normal movement of the transferrer7otherwise the slide remains at its adjusted rearward position during alloperations of the loom.

The transferrer 5() is provided with a laterally extended head 59 at theupper end thereof, as best shown in Fig. 4. The head 59 is positioned toswing forward and rearward in the pocket or recess 45 which receives thebobbin from the magazine.

A pair of spring plungers 60 and 61 (Figs. 2 and 3) are mounted near therear end of the pocket 45 and have upwardly projecting portions 62 (Fig.2) which yieldingly engage the butt and tip of the bobbin respectivelyand prevent the bobbin from rolling rearward out of the bobbin holderbefore the moment for transfer occurs. Nuts 63 (Fio. 3) provideadjustment for the yielding stops or spring plungers 60 and 61.

will now describe the provision for moving the bobbin holding carrierforward and rearward in its frame or support. A reciprocating bar 65(Fig. 1) slides upon a support or bearing 66 and is pivoted at its rearend to the lower end of the lever 67 which in turn is pivoted at 68 tothe loom frame 20. A roller 69 on the lever 67 is positioned in the camgroove or track of a side face cam 70 mounted on the crankshaftl 23.

A control rod 71 (Fig. is provided with a roll 72 normally positionedabove the front end of the reciprocating bar 65, (Fig. 1). The controlrod 71 is connected to suitable weft detecting mechanism (not shown) atthe opposite side of the loom and is withdrawn from its position abovethe bar (35 upon indication of weft exhaustion.

A lug 75 (Fig. 2) is formed at the lower rear edge of the carrier plate42, and the reciprocating bar 65 is provided with a notch or recess 76adapted to receive the lug 7 5. A tension spring 77 (Fig. 1) holds thebar 65 yieldingly against the roll or sleeve 72 on the rod 71.

Then the control rod 71 is withdrawn by the detecting mechanism, thenotch 76 in the bar 65 engages the lug 75 upon the next forward movementof the bar and draws the bobbin holding carrier rearward. rlhe front end78 (Fig. 1) of the bar 65 engages a bracket 73 on the carrier plate 42as the bar moves forward and thus returns the bobbin holding carrier toforward position.

The drop box lifter rod 8O (Fig. 1) is provided with a series of studs81 on the side thereof and with a series of plungers 32 on the frontthereof. A forked lever 33 is pivoted at 84 (Fig. 2) on a bracket 35which in turn is mounted on the lower member of the stand 30.

A segmental gear arm 8G is formed on the hub of the forked lever 83 anda corresponding segmental gear arm 37 is pivoted at 33 on the bracket 85and is provided with a forwardly extending arm 89 which has a pin andslot connection with a lifter rod 90. The rod 90 is threaded into adepending portion 91 of the member 34 of the supporting frame in whichthe bobbin holding carrier is slidable.

With these connections, it will be evident that swinging movement of theforked lever 83 will cause a corresponding raising or lowering of thebobbin holding carrier and its supporting frame. n the operation of myinvention, the bobbin holding carrier is normally maintained inmid-position with its bobbin holding recess in alignment with therunning shuttle in whichever ,ox it may be located.

As the lay moves forward. the stud 3l on the drop box lifter rod SOwhich corresponds to the .shuttle box containing the running shuttle isreceived within the forked arms of the lever 33. lf the lifter rodthereafter moves vertically to chang-e the boxes during the transferoperation, the lever 83 will be swung upon its pivot 34 and will actthrough the connections described to raise or lower the supporting frameand the bobbin holding carrier, thus maintaining the transferrer andbobbin in alignment with the shuttle box containing the indicatedshuttle.

stint-tie.

If desired, the'forked rear end 92 (Fig.

vplungers S2 on the drop box lifter rod -80 and is swung upon itsbearing 51 to force the bobbin rearward past the yielding plungers 60and 61, thereby inserting the bobbin in the exhausted shuttle andrearwardly ejecting the spent bobbin therefrom.

As the lower end 91of the transferrer is thus moved relatively forward,it soon engages a stud 96 (Figs. 2 and 3) onanarm 97 yhired on the shortshaft 98 pivoted in a hearing 99 depending from the lever carriermember'or plate 42. A secondarm. 100 is linedV to the shaft 98 and has astudior projection 101 extending over a portion of the sliding bar 65.

When the stud `96 is engaged by the transferrer, the device describedacts as a knockof to lower the bar 65,.` disconnecting the notch76..from the lug 75 and preventing further rearward movement of thebobbin holding carrier and transferrer.

The parts are thereafter returned to normal position by engagement ofthe front end 7S of the bar 65 with the bracket 79 of the bobbin holdingcarrier. While the lbar 65 is thus depressed, the rod 7l is releasedv bythe weft detector and returns to normal position, thereafter maintainingthe bar 65 in depressed position. n

I have also provided means .for revoking the transfer in the event of awidely misplaced shuttle. For this purpose, I provide a' revoking lever105 (Fig. 6) `having a plunger 106 adapted to enter a slot or opening107 extending transversely through the shuttle S, when the shuttle isproperly positioned in the shuttle box. If the shuttle is misplaced, theplunger 106strikes the side of the shuttle and the' revoking lever 105is swung forward to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Astud 107 (Fig. 7) projects from the side of the lever 105 and engages alatch 108 on the side of the reciprocating bar 65. As the lever is swungforward, the bar is depressed, releasing the lug 75 fromthe notch 7 6.Further. rearward movement of the bobbin holder is `.thus provented. Y

. [n.Figs.` 1,- 8' and :9,1 have indicateddifferent' steps' in theoperation, of `myweft replenishingv mechanism. Fig. 1 shows `the normalposition of--tlieT parts, withthe bobbin' holding carrier andtransferrerlocated in vnormal' POStio'nn opposite: the running? Fig.. 8--shows theposition of the parts just after indication of weft exhaustion, withtherunning shuttle at the opposite side of the loom from the magazine, and

with the roll 71 withdrawn, permitting the bar 65 to rise and seatthelug 75 in the notch 76. As the lay 21 thereafter moves rearward, thedwell inthe cam 70 (F 1)l permits thebobbin carrier to remain inf normalposition long` enough to receive the lnew bobbin, released from themagazine uponindication of weft exhaustion. As the lay 21 thereaftermoves forward after the flight of the shuttle to the magazine side ofthe loom, the bobbin carrier is moved rearward to meet the lay and thestud 81 for the active box venters the forked end of the lever 83. Thelay and carrier then advance together but thelay moves enough faster toadvancethe stud 81 in theV fork lever 83 until the corresponding luggages and operates thetransferrer 52.

In Fig. 9 the parts are shown in the position which they assume when thelay has started back from front center' and the transfer issubstantially completed. 1n this figure, the drop boxes are indicated asmoving downward lto bring the upper box to running position, themovement at this point being half completed. caused the forked lever 83to swing downward and has thus lowered the bohhin holding carrier andits supporting frame, maintaining the bobbin receiving` pocket andtransferrer opposite the active shuttle box. It will be noted that thenecessary verticalv movement of the bobhin holding carrier andtransferrer is substantially less than that of the drop boxes, as thetransfer is completed before the drop boxes have completed theirmovement to their new position Having thus described my invention, theadvantages thereof will be clearly apparent. Particular attention iscalled to the great saving in time which results from movement ofthetransferrer with the shifting shuttle boxes, asthis combined movementpermits traiisfer substantially at front center, and

also permits the shuttle boxes to shift at the same point in the loomoperation, as is the normal procedure.

of 'the Il' Such movement has f2 fil).

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, 1' do notwish to be limited to the details disclosed.` otherwise. than assetforth in the claims, but what l claim is i 1. In aweft replenishingloom, a weft lcarrierftransferrer, a set of shifting shuttleboXes,iactuating mechanism thereforJ means togive said transferrer atransferring movement, a'ndmeans to keep said transferrer in operativealignment with a selected shuttle box' 'during such transferring.move1nent.`, .in

" Whatever-pestieni'saidlboa may be." found:1

lio

is@l

2. ln a loom, a set of shifting shuttle boxes, a transferrer, means tomove said transferrer toward the boxes to insert a weft carrier therein,and means to move said transferrer bodily with said boxes if the boxesare changed during said transferring movement.

3. ln a weftv replenishing loom, a weft carrier transferrer, a set ofshifting shuttle boxes, means to move said transferrer with said boxesduring transfer', and means to give said transferrer a transferringmovement toward said boxes.

4. In a weft replenishing loom having a weft carrier magazine, a set ofdrop be; 3;; at the magazine end of the loom. and actuating mechanismtherefor, in combination, a wett carrier transferrer, means to normallyposition said transferrer in substantially liorizontal alignment withthe running shuttle, and means to move said transferrer vertically tomaintain such alignment if the boxes are changed during transfer andmeans to actuate said transferrer to transfer a weft carrier while thedrop boxes are changing.

5. In a loom, a set of vertically shifting drop boxes, actuatingmechanism therefor, a. transferrer, and means to move said transferrerto insert a bobbin from the front in a shuttle in one of said boxes,while at the same time permitting said boxes to be shifted vertically bythe drop box mechanism.

6. In a loom, a set of vertically shiftingdrop boxes, a carrier for abobbin selected. to be transferred, a transferrer, means to move saidcarrier and saidvtransferrer vertically with said drop boxes duringtransfer, and means to move said carrier and said transferrer rearwardto transfer the bobbin.

7. In a loom, a set of vertically shifting drop boxes, a carrier for abobbin selected to be transferred, said carrier being mounted formovement toward and from said drop boxes and also for movementvertically with said drop boxes, a transferrer mounted on said carrier,and means to move said transferrer relative to said carrier to transfera bobbin to a selected box while said. boxes are moving vertically.

8. In a loom, a set of vertically shifting drop boxes, actuatingmechanism therefor, a transferrer and means to move said transferrer toinsert a bobbin from the front in a shuttle in one of said boxes, whileat the same time permitting said boxes to be shifted vertically by thedrop box mechanism, said transferrer being coupled to said boxes forvertical movement therewith during` the act of transfer.

9. lin a loom, a set of drop boxes, a bobbin holding carrier, asupporting frame in which said carrier is mounted for substantiallyhorizontal movement, a fixed stand for said frame, a set of springsyieldingly positioning said frame and carrier with the bobbin-hold ingportion of said carirer normally in substantial horizontal alignmentwith the running shuttle, and means to move said frame against thetension of said springs to cause said frame to follow the shiftingmovement of the drop boxes during transfer.

lO. ln a weft replenishing` loom, a weft carrier transfer-rer, a set ofshifting shuttle box-s, means to move said transferrer with said boxesduring transfer, means to give said tranferrer a transferring movementtoward a selected box, and means to revoke the transfer if the selectedshuttle is displaced.

il. ln a loom, a set of vertically shifting drop boxes, a lifter rodtherefor, a series of studs fixed on said lifter rod, a forked levernalring a pin and slot connection with a selected stud corresponding tothe running shuttle as the boxes are moved forward, a bobbin holdingcarrier having a transferrer mounted thereon, and connections from saidlever to said carrier through which said carrier is maintained insubstantially horizontal alignment with the ruiming shuttle duringtransfer, in whatever vertical positions said shuttle may be found.

l2. In a loom, a vertically moving bobbin holding carrier, a slide onsaid carrier, and a. transferrer pivoted on said slide, said slide beingnormally maintained in rearward position on said carrier but being`yieldable forwardly to prevent breakage of parts if a weft carrier ismisplaced.

13. In a loom, a. set of shifting shuttle boxes, a transferrer, aconnection between said boxes and said transferrer effective to maintainsubstantial alignment of said transferrer with a selected box duringtransfer, in whatever position said box may be found, and actuatingdevices for said transferrer having continuous operative relation tosaid transferrer during transfer and during such box movement.

14. In a loom, a set of vertically shifting drop boxes, a lifter rodtherefor, a series of studs and a series of plungers on said lifter rod,corresponding to the number of boxes, a transferrer, and a device toposition said transferrer vertically, said device being actuated by aselected stud, and said transferrer receiving transferring movement fromthe corresponding plunger on said lifter rod, and said stud and plungermaintaining cooperative relation with said device' and transferrerduring any shifting of the drop boxes which may occur duringtransfer.

15. ln a loom, a stand, a supporting frame yieldingly mounted therein, abobbin holding carrier slidable in said frame, co-acting springsnormally positioning said fram-e and carrier vertically so that a bobbinin said carrier issubstantially aligned horizontally with the runningshuttle, and means to coinpress one or the other of said springs toyieldingly displace said frame and carrier in the direction of' a dropbox change which occurs during transfer.

16. In a. loom, a set of shifting` shuttle boxes, a bobbin holdingcarrier, and means to form a selective connection between said boxes andsaid carrier, and to thereafter move said carrier to correspond to anyshifting movement of said boxes occurring duringl transfer.

17. In a loom, a set of vertically shifting any vertical movement ofdrop boxes, a bobbin holding carrier, means to form a selectiveconnection between said boxes and said carrier, and to thereafter movesaid carrier vertically to correspond to said boxes occurring duringtransfer, means to move said carrier rearward during transfer, and meansto release said carrier before the rearward movement of said boxesbegins.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

SAMUEL A. NELSON.

